Mayor of Suburban Los Angeles City Killed, Wife Questioned and Released

The woman suspected of shooting and killing her husband, the mayor of a Los Angeles County city, has been released after hours of questioning, authorities said.

Sheriff’s homicide detectives detained and interviewed Levette Crespo after the shooting death Tuesday of her husband Daniel Crespo, the mayor of Bell Gardens, but determined no arrests will yet be made in the case, Sheriff’s Deputy Crystal Hernandez said.

The facts of the investigation will be turned over to prosecutors who will decide whether to file charges.

Paramedics were called to a Bell Gardens condominium shortly after 2:30 p.m. Crespo, 45, and his wife, Levette Crespo, 43, had gotten into an argument, Hernandez said.

Their son, Daniel Jr., 19, tried to intervene, and Crespo got into a struggle with him, she said. Levette Crespo got a gun and shot her husband several times in the torso, Hernandez said. He later died at a hospital.

Both Levette Crespo and Daniel Crespo Jr. were taken in for questioning, Hernandez said.

Crespo and his wife were high school sweethearts who married in 1986. They met in New York, according to a biography on the city’s website.

Bell Gardens, a suburb of about 43,000, is located about 18 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Crespo was elected to the City Council in 2001. The council is a part-time job and members take turns serving as mayor.

The city’s website Tuesday night had an image of a black bow and a statement from Mayor Pro Tem Priscilla Flores and three council members that said the shooting doesn’t appear to be related to Crespo’s mayoral activities.

“Our thoughts and prayers should be with Mayor Crespo’s family at this tragic time,” the statement said.